Comedian and actor Robin Williams, 63, died from “asphyxia due to hanging,” according to preliminary findings announced at a press conference on Tuesday by Lt. Keith Boyd, Assistant Chief Deputy Coroner of the Marin County’s Sheriff’s Office.
Williams was discovered on Monday shortly before noon by his personal assistant who became concerned when the actor did not respond to repeated knocks on the door, Boyd said. Williams’ wife, Susan Schneider, last saw her husband alive around 10:30 p.m. when she went to bed.
Robin Williams Press Conference Prepared Statement
1600 Los Gamos Drive, Suite 205
San Rafael, CA 94903
Marin County Sheriff’s Office
Coroner Division
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Lt. Keith Boyd
Assistant Chief Deputy Coroner
415-827-8202
[email protected]
My name is Keith Boyd. I am a Lieutenant with the Marin County Sheriff’s Office and serve as the Assistant Chief Deputy Coroner overseeing the day to day operations of the Coroner Division. First I would like to extend condolences to the William’s family on behalf of the Sheriff’s Office before we begin. I have a prepared statement and ask you to hold your questions as will take them at the conclusion of my statement.
On August 11, 2014, at approximately 11:55 am, Marin County Communications received a 9-1-1 telephone call reporting a male adult had been located unconscious and not breathing inside his residence located at 95 St. Thomas Way in unincorporated Tiburon, CA. The caller was distraught and indicated an apparent suicide due to a hanging had taken place and rigor mortis had set in. The Sheriff’s Office, as well as the Tiburon Fire Department and Southern Marin Fire Protection District were dispatched to the incident with emergency personnel arriving on scene at 12:00 pm. The male subject, pronounced deceased by firefighters from the Tiburon Fire Department at 12:02 pm has been identified as Robin McLaurin Williams, a 63 year old resident of unincorporated Tiburon, CA.
Preliminary information developed during the investigation by Coroner Division personnel has revealed Mr. Williams had been seeking treatment for depression. Mr. Williams was last seen alive by his wife at approximately 10:30 pm on August 10, 2014 when she retired for the evening in a room in the house. It is unknown at this time when Mr. Williams’ retired for the evening in a bedroom in his home. At approximately 10:30 am on August 11, 2014 Mr. Williams’ wife left the home believing Mr. Williams to still be asleep. Mr. Williams’ personal assistant became concerned at approximately 11:45am when he failed to respond to knocks on his bedroom door. At that time the personal assistant was able to gain access to Mr. Williams’ bedroom and entered the bedroom to find Mr. Williams clothed in a seated position, unresponsive, and with a belt secured around his neck with the other end of the belt wedged between the closed closet door and door frame. His right shoulder area was touching the door with his body was perpendicular to the door and slightly suspended.
Mr. Williams was cool to the touch with rigor mortis present in all of his extremities and livor mortis positioned appropriately for the position he was located in. The inside of Mr. Williams’ left wrist had several acute superficial transverse cuts. A pocket knife with a closed blade was located in close proximity to Mr. Williams. The pocket knife was examined and dry red material was located on the blade which appeared consistent to dried blood. It is unknown at this time if the dried red material is in fact blood or if it is Mr. Williams’ blood, but scientific testing will be conducted to evaluate its investigative value.
Mr. Williams was transported from the scene to the Napa County Sheriff’s Office Morgue by the Coroner Division pending a forensic examination which was conducted this morning prior to this press conference. The forensic examination, conducted by Dr. Joseph Cohen who is the Sheriff’s Office Chief Forensic Pathologist, did not reveal any injuries indicating Mr. Williams had been in a struggle or physical altercation prior to him being located deceased. The preliminary results of the forensic examination revealed supporting physical signs that Mr. Williams life ended from asphyxia due to hanging. Toxicology testing will be conducted to determine if Mr. Williams had any chemical substances in his system at his time of death. Toxicology results will not be available for approximately 2 – 6 weeks while the testing is being performed.
Please note this is an active investigation into the cause, manner, and circumstances of Mr. Williams’ death. The final cause and manner of death will not be certified until the conclusion of the investigation which is several weeks away. When the investigation is concluded and our final results are ready for dissemination a press conference will be scheduled.
I have received numerous requests for copies of the9-1-1 and dispatch recordings as well as investigative reports. Please note each request will be handled in accordance to Public Record Act guidelines with response provided within 10 days.
Media inquiries should be directed to Lt. Keith Boyd at [email protected]. I will respond to email inquiries time permitting as I receive them.
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